Capitalize on the existing successes of hemp to develop new markets
As a partner of the Hemp European Hub, FRD, Fibres Recherche et Développement leads the Plastics and Composites technical group, which brings together around sixty players in the hemp industry.
The Technical Group on Plastics and Composites of the Hemp European Hub brings together manufacturers in the sector around a community of interests related to hemp. “We are fortunate to have within the Hemp European Hub the world’s leading technology companies in the use of hemp fibers in plastics and composites,” explains Pierre Bono, Director of FRD, Fibres Recherche et Développement. “We have worked with them to draw up a roadmap, which we have just shared with a wider group. Building on our success in the automotive sector, we are now looking at how to enter new markets. These could include construction, furniture, interior design, or sports and leisure. We appreciate being able to come together with other complementary sectors within this group and talk freely, without any notion of competition.”
Boosting hemp’s existing industrial successes
The conditions for using hemp vary from one sector to another. FRD already contributes to the development of parts for the automotive sector.
The plastics industry, for example, requires short fibers or flours to manufacture interior vehicle components such as dashboards and doors. Hemp provides lightness and therefore has a direct effect on fuel or energy consumption. It reduces carbon impact. “Now, the challenge is to see how these developments can be transferred to other sectors such as construction. This requires adapting to the specific characteristics of this sector, where new products must meet certain volume and pricing requirements. We also need to look for new advantages that set hemp apart. By capitalizing on developments and pooling research, we can create competitive advantages in other sectors.”
RDI and growth drivers
The technical group is therefore working on a 100% hemp-based approach to determine what needs to be done to diversify applications and find new growth drivers. “We need to relearn the codes of the markets in which we operate and cultivate differentiation in order to build a comprehensive sector and support its growth.
This requires collective work on RDI. That is why, within the Hemp European Hub, this issue is being addressed across the board, under the impetus of FRD. “Each technical group has its own issues, and we need to support them through RDI (research, development, and innovation) to translate existing successes and roll them out to other products.”
A new stage therefore awaits the Hemp European Hub with RDI. “We now need to imagine a collective place for research and training. An anchor point that attracts manufacturers to develop hemp applications. To work together and translate our knowledge into new markets. We have a great opportunity in our region with a great ambition. We provide solutions with a short, local supply chain that makes sense in terms of production and use with responsible products. Hemp concrete breathes, hemp clothing breathes, car parts are lighter and therefore more energy efficient… the products have a good carbon footprint. We should be reaping the rewards of work that began fifty years ago when the hemp industry first started. We sow the seeds, and one day we will reap the harvest!”
Next meeting of the Plastics and Composites Technical Group: March 30, 2021 in Troyes!
More information about the technical group here.
